THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE : ‘Fascination’ – new album by leading Canadian dark-pop act out 18.02.22 + 2022 UK tour update
1st February 2022A Canadian darkwave ensemble who incorporate elements of electronica, goth and new wave into their lush and atmospheric dark-pop sound, The Birthday Massacre have enjoyed success over the last decade with albums such as âHide And Seekâ (2012) and âUnder Your Spellâ (2017), both of which charted at home and abroad. The early spring of 2020 then saw the release of the brooding and mystical âDiamondsâ, just as the onset of the global pandemic curtailed extensive touring plans to promote it.
Elaborating on that period, lead singer Chibi says âThe world shutting down was not something anyone, anywhere, could ever have anticipated. The band locked down like everyone else did, and entered into the same isolation. âDiamondsâ had just been released and the tours were scheduled, and then… full stop. During that time, self-reflection took over. Loneliness took over. When forced to spend so much time with oneself, you can uncover some very dark things, some very beautiful things, but they are all so personal that it can start to feel overwhelming.â
The band members were eventually able to reconvene and start writing new songs for what has become their ninth album, âFascinationâ, which is out on 18th February. A song from it entitled âDreams Of Youâ has already been made available as a single. âGetting back together in the studio to write and record âFascinationâ was a step towards releasing those emotions and feeling like maybe things will be right with the world again soon,â she continues.
Expansive sounding yet intimate feeling, âFascinationâ is TBMâs most fully realised effort to date, with the group’s signature blend of captivating electronics, aggressive guitars, cinematic melodies and beautifully bewitching vocals on full display. The album shows that their music and the magical world it creates remains ever captivating.
The Birthday Massacre begin an extensive US tour the week after album release, which will be followed by a twice rescheduled tour of the UK and plus dates in mainland Europe in the autumn. The UK itinerary commences with a newly added Halloween date in London due to ticket demand for their previously announced show in the capital on 12th November. âThe next step is getting back out on the road and being able to share our new music. We have not been to the UK, or anywhere for that matter, in a few years. England and Scotland have always been favourites to tour in, and we are so glad that we will finally be able to visit once again and have some fun! We all deserve as much of it as we can get after all this, don’t you think?” Chibi concludes.
The full list of UK dates is as follows:
31.10.22Â LONDON Lexington (extra show)
02.11.22Â YORK Fulford Arms
03.11.22Â NEWCASTLE Cluny
04.11.22Â EDINBURGHÂ Opium
05.11.22Â GLASGOW Ivory Blacks
08.11.22Â MANCHESTER Night People
09.11.22Â NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
10.11.22Â WOLVERHAMPTON NAC (new venue)
11.11.22Â BRISTOL Exchange
12.11.22Â LONDON Garage
The Birthday Massacre formed in 2000 in Ontario and were originally known as Imagica, their name taken from the title of a novel by Clive Barker. Relocating to Toronto, they renamed themselves The Birthday Massacre just before the release of their 2002 debut album, âNothing & Nowhereâ. The âVioletâ EP was issued in 2004 and then made available in expanded form as a full album via Metropolis Records, a label with whom the group have remained ever since.
The next two TBM albums, âWalking with Strangersâ (2007) and âPins and Needlesâ (2010), plus the EP âImaginary Monstersâ EP (2011), were followed by 2012’s âHide and Seekâ, which enjoyed an excellent critical reception and chart success. Their sixth album, âSuperstitionâ, appeared in late 2014 and was supported by major tours in North America, the UK, mainland Europe and Brazil.
A compilation of early four-track demos entitled âImagicaâ (2016) preceded âUnder Your Spellâ, released in 2017 and which made a strong showing on multiple US charts. Three years later, the band celebrated their 20th anniversary with âDiamondsâ, its release seeing new drummer Phillip Elliot and bassist Brett âBatâ Carruthers join the bandâs ranks.
FASCINATION
TRACKLISTING
1Â Fascination
2Â Dreams Of You
3Â Cold Lights
4Â Stars And Satellites
5Â One More Time
6Â Like Fear, Like Love
7Â Once Again
8Â Precious Hearts
9Â The End Of All Stories
album pre-order link
thebirthdaymassacre.bandcamp.com/album/fascination
THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE
Chibi – vocals
Rainbow – guitars, programming, vocals
Falcore – lead guitar
Phillip Elliott – drums
Owen – keyboards
Brett âBatâ Carruthers – bass